“Wow” was an oft-heard expression from young artists at Westside Elementary School as they explored printmaking techniques and learned about Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, Montana.

The 12,000-acre art center hosts classical chamber music concerts and exhibits large-scale outdoor sculpture.

Tippet Rise’s art education coordinator Beth Korth and her colleague, Jenny Van Ooyen, recently worked with kindergarten and first grade classes at Westside.

During their time at the school, they led an interactive presentation about the art center and then helped students immerse themselves in making their own art.

Children worked with objects from nature and a mobile printmaking press to create nature-inspired monotype prints. Many students were delighted by the process of taking 3D objects and turning them into paper prints.

The word “wow” was echoed during Korth’s and Van Ooyen’s presentation showcasing Tippet Rise’s monumental sculptures, some towering 60 feet high against the backdrop of the Beartooth Mountains.

“We’re grateful to be working with Westside’s wonderful children, faculty and staff,” Korth said. “They’re sweet kids. Smart, talented and enthusiastic.”

As for Westside’s impression of Tippet Rise? The majority of the students had never heard of the art center before; by the end of the two-day visit, many said they wanted to get there soon.

Tippet Rise offers art education in schools and community organizations throughout the region surrounding the art center. Tippet Rise was featured on PBS NewsHour last year and was listed as one of the “World’s 100 Greatest Places of 2018” by Time Magazine.